Local calligraphy writer gives invitations ‘touch of class’

Laura Brown, the scribe behind Signature Scribe & Silhouettes, picked up the calligraphy pen several years ago but has had no formal training in handwriting.

Laura Brown of Signature Scribe & Silhouettes said the bulk of her business is from harried brides with no time to address invitations. Photo Courtesy Laura Brown

What began as a way to make a little cash as a stay-at-home mom evolved into a business creating hand-lettered wedding invitations, menus and books as well as everything from a die-cast firetruck for her friends’ children to a family tree.

She officially opened Signature Scribe & Silhouettes last spring, but has been writing calligraphy — or as Brown likes to call it, “vintage handwriting” — for the past four or five years.

She said the wedding invitation is one of the most important aspects of the wedding — one that brides often put off until the last minute. The bulk of her business is being there for brides who have a million other things to do besides those pesky envelopes and invitations.

“People forget sometimes that the invitation is a peek at showing what the event is going to be like,” Brown said. “Brides worry about first impressions. This gives people a little hint of what’s to come, and I think brides would want that little extra touch of class.”

Brown’s lettering is not the gothic style that “you can barely read,” she said. She calls her style “old-fashioned.”

Not a lot of people are in the business. When she started out, she had to research companies in Ann Arbor, Detroit and Cleveland. “There’s not a whole lot out there,” she said.

She doesn’t advertise and relies mostly on word of mouth, Facebook and wedding shows. She attended a budget bridal expo a couple of years ago, and said the experience blew her mind.

“People just love it,” Brown said. “People want to stand and watch me. They are oohing and ahhing. Everybody likes pretty things. [I realized] if I write everyone’s names, then they would probably keep that. So I took my pen and ink and notecards and when a bride would come by, I’d write their names for them. It goes up on the fridge and everybody says ‘Who did that for you?’ So when it comes time for invitations, they’ll think of me.”

Mardelle Shaffer hired Brown for her invitations, signs, menus and more for her September wedding. She had nothing but complimentary things to say about the finished product.

“We were really pleased with everything,” Shaffer said. “It really helped step up the look of everything for my wedding. It made it more classy and elegant, especially for the invitations that set the tone for your wedding.”

Some brides like to put a special twist on the invitation and add a wax seal. One of Brown’s clients used a seal and it worked perfectly, she said.

Brown said she is trying to grow her small business but still needs the flexibility to care for her husband and children, ages 1 and 4.

As she builds her wedding clients, she has been doing other side jobs, including a family tree, the lyrics to a song and a baby book.

“I definitely have room for a lot of growth,” Brown said. “The funny thing is you watch someone do calligraphy, it’s very slow. It’s almost like drawing. I want it to come out like I’m handwriting. It doesn’t take me nearly as long as you would think.”

Brown enjoys Renaissance weddings and believes that’s her market. She’s also there for the bride who “doesn’t want to mess around with the envelopes.”

“You know you have a bunch of other stuff to do and I can have it for you in a couple weeks,” Brown said.

Eventista: First impressions

It’s said that first impressions are everything. The same can be said for love at first sight. So why is the wedding invitation — the first impression guests receive — becoming substandard?

As a planner and an occasional wedding guest, I can understand both sides of the playing field. I know many couples have budget concerns and that often one of their first ideas is to cut cost on invitations. On the other hand, as a guest looking forward to a fun night out, there is nothing more disappointing than flimsy card stock, a rushed handwritten address and Scriptina font. There, I said it. Scriptina font. Don’t do it.

“They just end up tossing it anyway” — I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that. But actually, the wedding invitation often gets hung in the kitchen or tucked into a daily planner. It’s looked at repeatedly with anticipation. As stationery designer Kim Collins of Fiddle Stix Boutique at Levis Commons says, “The wedding invitation sets the tone for the entire event and helps give the guests an idea of what to expect. If a bride is having a gorgeous, extravagant wedding but sends something that looks less than impressive … guests are not going to anticipate something as extraordinary as they should.”

Beautiful is more affordable than you think. “Brides and grooms do not have to skimp on these details; they just need to find the right fit,” said Kelly Henry, stationery designer and owner of UpperCase Designs in Toledo. Thanks to sites like Pinterest, brides can find a plethora of ideas. But by working with a local stationery designer, you can make that “pin” come to fruition. For an invite with a lot of color go for digital printing versus off-set printing, suggests Henry. Referring guests to a wedding website for more information cuts down on clutter and costs, Collins suggests. Postcard response cards are another cost-saving tip. By working with a local designer, you can give that postcard a unique, upscale look that will compensate for its ease and convenience.

What’s felt in the hand is just as important as what’s seen by the eye. Oftentimes invitations ordered online use a lighter weight of card stock. Always request to see and feel a sample. Lighter stock in both the invite and the envelope do not mail well. They are often eaten up by the postage machines and arrive to your guests torn or marked. One way to avoid this is to also handstamp each of your invites at the post office. While you’re there, double check to make sure you have enough postage on your envelopes, if you haven’t done so already. Always bring a completely assembled invite when buying stamps.

Carrying consistent fonts, colors and design for your wedding programs, escort cards, menus, table numbers and signage gives the event an overall appearance that is more memorable and enjoyable. But don’t be afraid to assemble these items yourself. “This takes a little bit more time for the bride, but it saves on the cost of the vendor’s assembly process,” Collins said.

The wedding invitation is one of the most traditional parts about a wedding, but you can still have a little fun while being socially appropriate. One way to do this is with the RSVPs. “One of the most requested RSVP responses is, ‘We’ll dance if you play this song.’ Newlyweds want to see their guests out on the dance floor having a great time. One of my favorites is ‘We’ll have to miss all the fun’ and ‘We’ll be there to dance and dine,’” Henry said.

Finally, don’t forget the attention to detail when it comes to addressing your invitations. “The smallest of details really stand out throughout the entire event, starting with the invitations!” Collins said. Calligraphy is the most popular way of addressing envelopes. If you cannot afford hand-addressed calligraphy, opt for having a stationery designer print the addresses on the envelopes with a font that matches the invitation suite, suggests Henry. Then dress it with beautiful stamps. Buy a collection of vintage stamps on Etsy and include four to five different kinds in your color scheme to reach your required postage.

The wedding invitation doesn’t have to be a budget-bleeder. And it doesn’t have to be dull to be affordable. With a little personal style and attention to detail, you will be sure to excite your guests!

Brittany Craig is the principal event designer and coordinator for Crowning Celebrations. She specializes in weddings and social celebrations. Follow her at www.crowningcelebrations.com.